Unitary mold-board-frame snowplow



April 24, 1934. D. A SARGENT UNITARY MOLD BOARD FRAME SNOWPLOW Filed Nov. 28, 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR,

DonA. Jalyeull ida wzm,

fiwry.

April 24, 1934. D. A. SARGENT UNITARY MOLD BOARD FRAME SNOWPLOW Filed Nov. 28, 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR,

Dan )4 JaryenL.

April 1934- D. A. SARGENT 1,956,204

UNITARY MOLD BOARD FRAME SNQWPLOW Filed Nov. 28, 1932 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 ENvENToR.

Don A.Ja yenl.

mw cfw Patented Apr. 24, 1934 1,956,204 UNITARY MOLD-BOARD-FRAME SNOW- PLOW Don A. Sargent,

Portland, Maine Application November 28, 1932, Serial No. 644,611

4 Claims.

snow plows, either of the single or double-moldboard type, and deals more particularly with the structure to which the mold-board is directly attached.

Heretofore the manufacture of snow plows has in most cases been conducted largely on the hitor-miss plan, the parts being rather crudely formed and assembled in a more or less unworkmanlike manner.

Fabricated in this way the mold-boards, as for instance in the two moldboard type, seldom if ever were symmetrical in shape and as a consequence the plow was out of balance and not so easily held to a true course when driven over the highway.

Moreover, in a metal mold-board plow with which the present invention is principally concerned, the mold-boards themselves, shaped as they are by a roll ing process, conform only approximately to the theoretically correct curvature and the subsequentoperations in attaching the various mold-board'supporting and interconnecting parts fail usually to correct this informality when the plows are constructed by prevailing methods. I

It is common knowledge that, in atwo-moldboard type plow, it is not a simple matter to roll the two mold-boards--one right hand and the other leftand'procure symmetrical contour of the two plates. I

these rolled plates t is even more difficult to set on the erecting stand in proper position for interconnecting withvarious tie bars, angles and other elements to support the moldboards, and preserve uniformity of curvature of the two plates.

plow.

It is mainly to eliminate this needless expense that I have conceived the present invention which contemplates in a V-shape snow plow, a frame-like structure made in one piece, incontrast to its being fabricated from several, and

to include accurately contouredmold-board seats together with all interconnecting ties and braces necessary to provide a strong, integrally formed mold-board-supporting member ready, without fitting, to receive thereto.

the mold-boards for securing This undertaking may best be accomplished by making this member in the form ofa moldboard-seat-equipped castingpreferably a light weight one or one evolved from aluminum or some alloy of which this metal is a principal component. I

Manufactured in this manner the snow plow nose portion is in reality a master form having the. mold-board seats incorporated as integral parts of the interconnecting structure.

And on account of the fact that this casting a true counterpart of the original, accurately made pattern, there is the assurance that the mold-boards themselves when secured to their seats will be symmetrically positioned. H r

This is not always the case where the interior structure is fabricated, or attached piece by piece to the mold-boards, or one piece to another.

Furthermore, the moldboard seats constitute rigid and true backgrounds against which the mold-board plates can be sprung in case-they might be slightly Warped or out of true form due to careless rolling. v l

I have disclosed an illustrative embodiment of my invention in the accompanying drawings in whichn I .Fig. 1 is a plan view of a triangular type snow plow incorporating therein a unitary structure in accord with my invention;

Fig. 2' is a side elevation thereof; I r

Fig. 3 is a section taken on line 3- 3, Fig. l;

, Fig. 4 .shows a plan View of the unitary frame structure made'in one piece; V

Figs. 5 and 6 illustrate, respectively, end and side views of Fig- 4;

Fig. 7 is a plan view of a modified form of the unitary frame structure;

v Fig. 8 illustrates a blade type snow plow attached to .a. truck; I

Fig. 9 is the unitary frame structure shown in Fig. 8, and c I: v

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary view of a frame with the mold-board cast integral therewith.

Similar reference characters are employed for like parts.

In describing my improvement in snow plow construction I will first deal with the one-piece design ofunitary mold-board frame adapted for use on V type plows. I I

Referringto. Figs. 1 and 2, 1 represents in its entirety the integrally cast interconnecting frame member. M V

In operating my snow plow with a motor truck two angle bars? are secured-to theframe l at the" proper elevation abovethe ground line GL, and to each of these members 2 is attached a push bar 3 which extends rearwardly and has on its end a slotted head 4 in which operates a roll mounted on a stud 5 secured in the forward end of the push beam 6.

The member 6 is joined to the channel member 6a which extends for a considerable distance rearwardly and is adjustably secured to the hanger '7 fixedly mounted on the frame F of the truck. The usual shoes S with which most snow plows of the triangular type are equipped are supplied in this instance.

A unitary, one-piece mold-board frame is desirable for the reason that it eliminates much of the labor and expense incident to fabricating the interior structure from many small parts. And it is contemplated following this idea for the smaller sizes of snow plows.

However, for greater convenience in foundry operations it may be expedient to construct this frame element for the larger sizes of plows in two or perhaps three parts, thus avoiding difficulties incident to molding extremely large castings.

In Fig. '7 I illustrate in plan view a unitary frame structure made in two parts, the whole representing a complete and finished unit men ber adapted to carry the two mold-boards after they are attached to the respective mold-board seats by bolting, riveting or electric welding. I prefer, when constructing the unitary frame as shown in Fig. '7, to make the laterals la and lb jointless for their entire lengths. In this way the continuity of the surfaces serving as the mold-- board seats is not broken and the mold-boards themselves fit more accurately than would otherwise be the case.

In this same design (shown in Fig. '7) I also prefer to add another longitudinal element, 1h, on each of the two sections, with abutting flanges 8 secured together by bolts 9, these parts being at the top of the frame. Similar flanges 8a with bolts 9a to secure them together are provided on the lower members, 19'.

Thus far in this specification I have described my unitary frame structure in its application to a V-shape or two mold-board snow plow, but my conception is sufiiciently broad to include a style of snow plow known commercially as the blade type in which there is but one mold-board or snow-removing element.

The mold-board in this type of plow is set obliquely across the front of the truck and is particularly adapted for light service with the smaller sizes of motorized vehicles.

In erecting these blade plows it is common practice to secure bent angle irons to the convex side of the mold-board, transversely thereof, with usually one long reinforcing member disposed lon itudinally of the blade and near its bottom.

When operating a plow of this description to its full capacity there is more or less weaving or twisting of the blade which tends to loosen connections and eventually requires repairs to be made.

A blade type snow plow equipped with my unitary frame is illustrated in Fig. 8 and shown attached to a light motor vehicle; Fig. 9 shows a detail of the frame alone, which in its entirety is identified by the numeral 10.

The frame comprises a flange portion 10a extending completely around its border, a plate portion 10b and vertically disposed interconnecting ribs 100 and 10d.

Through the holes 11 in the ribs 100 operate, respectively, the pins 11a from which swing the yoked ends 12 of the semi-circular member 13.

On the member 13, adjacent its yoked ends, are mounted, respectively, the caster-pin housings 14, depending from each of which is a swiveling caster 15.

In holes 16 operates a pin 16a pivotally securing one end of the link 1'7. The opposite end of the link has pivotal connection, at 18, with the A- shape push frame 19.

The holes 11 and 16 are in mutual alignment so that it is possible for the unitary frame (with the mold-board attached) to tilt forwardly or backwardly within certain limits, this action being under the control of the blade-release mechanism 20.

The frame and mold-board swing horizontally on the vertical pivot pin 18 and they can be maintained in any desired position or degree of obliquity by the pin 21 which engages any one of the various holes 22 in the semi-circle member 13. The whole structure may be raised from the ground by the chain 23 actuated by a hoist (not shown).

The mold-board Ba is secured to the unitary frame by either rivets, R; (as shown) or by-anyother proper means, including electric welding.

On each end of the structure 10 are ears 24 between which is rotatively mounted a roll 25. These rolls function as deflecting agents, preventing direct contact of the end of the blade with the f curbing of a side-walk. 165

In the present invention I am principally concerned with light weight structure embodying the fewest possible number of parts.

Few parts to handle reduce the possibility of errors in assembling, with a consequent reduction in the expense for labor. Operating costs for a light weight snow plow if properly designed will be lower than a heavy one, for obvious reasons.

The power required to propel the ordinary heavy plow will be greater than is necessary to push mine over the snow-covered highways, and the original extra cost of the prime mover as well also as the increased amount of fuel required are items which might be saved by the use of my type of snow plow.

Or, assuming that the same power is employed, then a greater capacity for the removal of the snow obtains.

Decreased weight of my snow plow lowers ground frictional resistance to its propulsion, and 125 from whatever angle the subject is considered, light weight snow plows tend to economy in operation.

And in carrying to a logical conclusion my conception of an efficient snow plow I may elect to 180 make the mold-boards themselves of the same light-weight material of which the frame portion of the plow is constructed, or of an alloy metal of which the predominating characteristics are lightness in weight and the capacity to retain a high degree of polish without appreciable corrosion.

There is thus evolved a snow-removing apparatus embodying the highest degree of efficiency, first, because of its requiring less power to push 140 it through the snow, and secondly, due to the fact that the character of the material of which the mold-boards are made enables them to more easily shed the snow than do those made of steel which quickly oxidizes when attacked by the elements.

Snow plows being bulky machines are usually left in the open when not in service. The moldboards soon rust, resulting in a roughened surface which causes frictional resistance to the passage of the snow thereover. Painting is a palliative but not a remedy for this trouble, as the paint soon wears off when the plow is in service.

And in line with reducing the cost of production of my snow plow I may elect to make the moldboard integral with the frame structure, particularly with that type of plow illustrated in Fig. 8 of the drawings. Casting the two (moldboard and frame) as a unit eliminates the cost of labor usually required to join these two members. This feature is illustrated in Fig. 10.

What I claim is:

1. A triangular shape snow plow comprising in combination two mold-boards, one disposed on each side of said plow and mutually joining at the apex thereof, a unitary, triangular shape frame structure disposed between and adapted to support said mold-boards, said structure including two lateral elements on each side thereof, one at the upper and the other at the lower portion of the structure, said elements extending from the apex rearwardly of said structure, means to secure said mold-boards to the respective sides of said frame structure, standards joining said upper and said lower lateral elements, one of said standards being at the apex and one at each rearward corner of said structure, transversely disposed elements joining, respectively, the two upper and the two lower lateral elements, and a central, longitudinally disposed element extending from the nose to the lower transverse element in said frame structure.

2. A triangular shape snow plow having two mold-boards, one on each side of said plow, an

interposed structure embodying a one-piece cast aluminum frame comprising curved-face lateral elements longitudinally arranged at the upper and at the lower portions of each of the two outer sides of said frame, said elements constituting mold-board seats adapted to receive and accurately fit the contour of said mold-boards, means to fixedly secure said mold-boards to the respective mold-board seats, and a plurality of longitudinally, Vertically, and transversely disposed bracing and tying elements made integral with said mold-board seat elements, the said integral structure in its entirety constituting the sole means for supporting and interconnecting said mold-boards.

3. A triangular shape structure for snow plows, comprising an unintegrated mold-board-supporting member, embodying curved mold-board seats on two of its sides, and tying and bracing portions interconnecting said seats and made originally integral therewith.

4. A carrying structure for mold-boards of snow plows having two rearwardly diverging sides, comprising a one-piece originally jointless interior member, embodying mold-board seats on its sides, said seats being curved to accurately fit symmetrically formed mold-boards adapted, respectively, to be positioned thereon, a frame structure interconnecting and made originally an integral part of said seat structure, means to secure J said mold-boards to their respective seats, and

push-bar attaching elements for making connection with a propelling vehicle, said elements being integral with the said frame structure.

DON A. SARGENT. 

